The Ambassador clarified Denmark’s position on abortion, which allows terminations up to 12 weeks without reason.

It is possible to have an abortion after the 12th week if there is a danger that the child will have a serious physical or mental disorder, due to hereditary systems or damage or disease in the foetal condition, including Down’s syndrome. However there is a need to obtain permission.

Mr Søndergaard said “ the existence of Down’s syndrome in the child is not sufficient to get the abortion”.

He added: “In 2016, there were four children born in Denmark with Down’s syndrome after prenatal diagnosis and there were 20 children born with Down’s syndrome diagnosed after birth.

“In general it should be noted that it is not the policy of the Danish health authorities to eradicate Down’s syndrome, but it is their duty to provide the pregnant woman with the best possible basis for her to make her own decision about her pregnancy.”

The Sinn Féin TD had written to the embassy after the comments by Ms McDermott at the Oireachtas committee seeking clarity on the position.

Ms O’Reilly said the allegations “were so serious” the embassy deserved to be notified as a matter of urgency.